UNTWO to Reopen Tourism in Bali, Indonesia Across Borders
The World Tourism Organization (UNTWO) is ready to welcome international tourists in Bali, Indonesia, after the advanced collaboration with the Indonesian government and the Bali administration.
According to the UNTWO Asia and Pacific director, the team had implemented high-grade health protocols devised to reopen tourism in Bali. The government is anticipated to announce the reopening of the tourist spot before the Christmas holidays.
“The standards and safety protocol, I found them excellent, if not the best there are,” he said. “I hope our collaboration with the government of Indonesia can be a good example that neighbouring countries, other countries in Asia, can learn [from],” the director stated to reporters in Nusa Dua.
Pandemic Impact on Tourism Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted tourism and foreign industry this year, forcing most business in Indonesia to halt operations and restrict movement. The country implemented a lockdown to control the virus’s spread, leaving tourist destinations negative since March.
Indonesia reported 2.9 million foreign admissions, a 53.56 per cent reduction from the same period the previous year, as per the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data. The tourism revenue lost Rp 85 trillion (US$ 5.87 billion) amid quarantine measures.
“Banks will need to extend the debt-restructuring program, and they will need to provide working capital loans,” said the Perhimpunan Hotel dan Restoran Indonesia chairman, in rescuing the business and tourism sector in the country.
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice-chairman stated that the travel-related operations would go bankrupt if the government cannot provide much-needed cash injections. Supporting domestic business trips could restore some losses and an initial step to reopen tourism in Bali.
Resuming Operations
The UNWTO, in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, hosted a workshop called “Capacity Building Workshop on Restarting International Tourism in Bali.”
“I am extremely happy to see Indonesia and Bali. You guys are ready to open for tourism soon or next year. I wouldn’t be surprised if the government announced that Bali is open before Christmas,” UNTWO Asia and Pacific director told reporters in Nusa Dua.
The seminar aimed to discuss the new approach to reopen tourism in Bali while adapting to the new reality. This includes protocols, formulation of policies, and immigration review. The method is applied to visits to Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport and various key tourist objectives.
It emphasized the sense of collaboration of public and private sectors in reopening tourism to serve visitors to Bali. Stakeholders, tourism workers, and service providers would be accommodated.
“We are prepared, but it’s just about how Bali can control COVID-19 cases,” Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry spokesman recounted to The Jakarta Post.
Meanwhile, visits in Semarang in Central Java and Medan in North Sumatra have begun to resume tourism to local tourists despite the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Health protocols for businesses and public facilities are implemented to ensure safety and avoidance of the spread of the virus.
